Located within the heart of the Latrobe Valley, 165 kilometres east of Melbourne, Loy Yang is Victoria's single largest energy producer and is a reliable and efficient energy source for consumers right across south eastern Australia. Construction began at Loy Yang in 1977 with the first overburden (soil) removed from the mine in 1982. The company's four turbo-generators have a nameplate rating of 500 megawatts each and were brought into service between 1984 and 1988. Recent major maintenance programs at Loy Yang have delivered generation enhancements with the power station now capable of generating in excess of 2,200 megawatts. The open cut brown coal mine has an annual output of approximately 30 million tonnes of brown coal. Although relatively soft with a high moisture content, brown coal is Victoria's most accessible and cost efficient fuel for electricity generation. Loy Yang coal has an environmental advantage due to its low sulphur and ash content. Loy Yang is a world leader in the electricity industry. This is demonstrated by record production levels and commitment to international best practice in all aspects of operations, including a superior safety program and environmental management system. As Australia's lowest cost producer of electrical energy, Loy Yang is well placed to be the leader in the competitive National Electricity Market.